Allergies, irritations or worse still ... Certain compositions may have heavy consequences on our health.

So what are the ingredients to avoid in hair products so as not to risk damaging our hair? Decryption.

Read the label of hair products to understand the composition

To find out what our shampoos, conditioner, masks and others contain, the first step is to decrypt their labels. And more particularly, to analyze the lists Incentive (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), that is to say the lists of ingredients that are on the back of each product.

What to know about these Inci lists:

• They are compulsory for all cosmetics products in Europe.
• They are written in English or Latin to facilitate their understanding around the world.
• The ingredients are listed in decreasing order, from the largest concentration to the lowest.
• The first five to six ingredients are generally about 70 % of the finished product. The exact quantities of each ingredient are never mentioned.

The categories of ingredients to be avoided in hair products

To make the right choices when purchasing your hair products, the second step is to know the harmful ingredients. Let's review the different categories of components to avoid.

The surfactants are used as Foaming agents, emulsifiers and cleaners. It is therefore thanks to them that the product will turn into foam when applying. And even if this foam does not define the effectiveness of a product, it in any case participates in our perception of its cleaning character and our satisfaction when it is used.

But all the surfactants are not equal: some are very aggressive while others are much softer and less irritating. The problem is that the majority of hair products on the market contain the most aggressive surfactants (sulfates), which tend to irritate the scalp.

To recognize them, it's simple: their name contains the term "sulfate".

The surfactants to avoid : Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate.

2. Silicones

Silicones are very commonly used in conditioners and masks because they bring softness, flexibility and shine to the hair. They also make them easier to disentangle.

The problem is that it is about "plastic" materials derived from petrochemicals and that their impact on hair fiber is harmful. Silicones indeed leave a thin layer on the hair fiber which brings shine, but which Also suffocates the scalp and which increases the hair fiber. Consequences: the hair is greater and they are weakening over time.

Silicones are, in addition, non -renewable and non -biodegradable resources, therefore very polluting for the environment.

We spot them thanks to their suffixes: - icon, - iconol, - oxane, - silane or even - siloxane.

Silicones to avoid : Dimethicone, polysilicone, polysiloxane, amodimethicone, quarternium silicone and threethsthicone, cyclopentasiloxane.

3. Quaternary ammoniums
Mainly present in shampoos and conditioners, quaternary ammoniums act quite similar to silicones since they bring shine and flexibility to hair.

The catch is that they are often used in so -called “silicone” products to replace them ... but that they are Even more harmful!

Quaternary ammoniums to avoid : Quaternium + figure, polyquaternium + figure, dsdmac (quaternium-5), dipalmitoylethyl hydroxyelmonium, methodulfate, hydroxypropylrimonium chloride, CTAC (Ceyl Triméthyl ammonium chloride), Cerimonium choride, oss polymer.

4. PEG and PPG
PEG (poly-ethylene-glycol) and PPG (poly-owner-glycol) are used mainly in shampoos as emulsifying agents and as a binding substance in gels. The danger is that PEG makes the skin more permeable and the body is then less protected from harmful substances.

To identify them, it's easy: they are simply called PEG and PPG.

5. Conservatives
These are perhaps the most famous harmful ingredients in the general public, as they are often the subject of articles and warnings from health professionals.

Conservatives, as their name suggests, are used to better keep the products and to offer them a longer lifespan. Their role is also to prevent the proliferation of bacteria. They are found in most hair and cosmetic products.

The problem is that these conservatives are endocrine disruptors Responsible for substantial hormonal development. Fertility as well as the development of cancers would in particular be linked to the use of these conservatives.

Conservatives to avoid : Parabens (Butyl-, phenyl-, methyl-, propyl-, etc.), phenoxyethanol, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, BHA, BHT, phtalatian, methylisothiazolinone, triclosan.

6. Mineral oils
Mineral oils are used in most hair products and provide a feeling of softness and hydration thanks to the film they leave on the hair fiber. The concern is that this film stifles the hair, clogs its pores and prevents the penetration of moisturizing care. The hair therefore seems hydrated, but it is only an artificial effect because the real natural and self -regulated hydration of the hair is compromised.

Mineral oils to avoid: Paraffinum liquidum, ozokerite, Petrolatum, Ceresin, Cera Microcristallina, Mineral Oil.

7. Fragrances and perfumes
Simply listed in the Inci lists under the name "Fragrance/Perfume", perfumes are used in hair and cosmetic products to give the product a pleasant smell or to hide that of some of its components.

But under this name is a mysterious reality. Because if the manufacturers must mention that they use perfume, they do not have to indicate more details as to the composition of it. However, a perfume can consist of a mixture of dozens of chemicals, including endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic components. The perfume is generally very allergenic and can therefore also cause undesirable effects such as respiratory disorders, headaches and skin reactions.

Harmful ingredients and their health consequences

There are many harmful ingredients and are found in most of the products that are used on a daily basis. The dizzying increase in hormonal cancers, allergies and chronic diseases reminds us that we have to remain vigilant about the products we use. But even if a lot of scientific studies prove the harmful effects of one or the other of these health ingredients, there are still gray areas to clarify.

Among other things, we must still specify the impact of the "cocktail" effect, that is to say the interaction of these different products between them, since we use several on a daily basis (shampoo, conditioner, Shower gel, deodorant, cream, etc.), and the accumulation of all these components in our body.

"Chemical" does not always mean "toxic"

To protect our health, the important thing is, on the one hand, to go towards ever more transparency on the side of manufacturers concerning the composition of their products and, on the other hand, that consumers are used to Decipher the labels to make the right choices.

However, beware of amalgams and not to condemn everything that is chemical. Natural ingredients can be toxic (a plant, for example) and chemical ingredients can be completely harmless (the water you drink).

Our advices

• If your hair is not in full health, it's time to sort In your bathroom and check that your products are as healthy as possible. Review your shampoos and hair care and set out those that may damage the health of your hair and scalp.

• Hold on informed Components recognized as dangerous (for example, aluminum).

• Favor simple and natural compositions.